HARARE , Zimbabwe -LRB- CNN -RRB- -- Zimbabwe 's central bank introduced a $ 10 billion note worth less than 20 U.S. dollars , as the once-prosperous southern African nation battles against spiraling hyperinflation .

Zimbabwe President Robert Mugabe at Zanu-PF National Political Commissar Elliot Manyika 's burial last week

The new note , expected to buy just 20 loaves of bread , comes just a week after Zimbabwe issued a $ 500 million note to ease a cash shortage .

Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe Governor Gideon Gono said the $ 10 billion note was being introduced for the `` convenience of the public ahead of the festive season . ''

On Thursday , the U.S. dollar traded for about 600 million Zimbabwe dollars , and the hyperinflation was expected to continue .

People slept overnight at the bank doors , hoping to get money for the next day .

President Robert Mugabe apologized to his ZANU-PF party supporters Thursday for the problems Zimbabweans were facing but insisted his nation has turned a corner in its fight against its worst humanitarian crisis , the state-owned Herald newspaper reported .

Shortages of most essentials such as electricity , fuel , medicine and food have become a common feature in Zimbabwe , forcing people to flee the country .

Zimbabwe has slashed zeros from the amount of its worthless currency during the past two years -- the latest being 10 zeros in August .

Once one of Africa 's most promising economies , Zimbabwe is reeling under its worst humanitarian and economic crisis . A cholera outbreak has killed more than 1,000 Zimbabweans since August , forcing hundreds to cross the border into South Africa and Botswana to seek treatment .

Five million people are in need of food aid in a nation that once exported food to its neighbors , the United Nations says .

But Mugabe -- blamed for the crisis by his critics -- said the worst was over .

He said he was optimistic about resuscitating the power-sharing deal he signed with opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai in September , the Herald reported .

`` We will be inviting the two leaders -- Mr. Morgan Tsvangirai and Professor Arthur Mutambara -- to come and discuss the way forward , '' Mugabe said .

The deal has yet to take effect , as Tsvangirai blamed Mugabe for grabbing all key ministries such as home affairs , local government , finance , home affairs , information and defense .

Mugabe said Western nations and neighboring Botswana were against the formation of an inclusive government in Zimbabwe .

`` I was reading recent utterances by Condoleezza Rice that African leaders are not prepared to topple President Mugabe and bring about regime change , '' he said . `` She condemned this inability on the part of African leaders . How could African leaders ever topple Robert Mugabe , organize an army to come ? It is not easy . I do not know of any African country that is brave enough to do that .

`` Botswana is making some stupid noises . They are just hollow noises to assure the MDC that the Botswana government supports it and also in response to Britain and America that Botswana is a good mouthpiece of the white men . '' The MDC is Tsvangirai 's opposition party -- Movement for Democratic Change .

On cholera , Mugabe said the country was failing to import adequate water treating chemicals because of the sanctions imposed by the west .

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The new $ 10 billion notes comes a week after a $ 500 million note was issued

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Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe governor : New note issued ahead of `` festive season ''

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The country slashed 10 zeros from the amount of its worthless currency in August

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Five million people are in need of food aid , the United Nations says